Back to Work at Long Last

It's been a busy autumn at Past Perfect Vintage. We had a great a shopping run through the Northeast, then came home to a time intensive costume project in opera. It was great, it was successful and now it's done. So the break is over, and we have added a lot of new inventory to Past Perfect Vintage this week. Let's look at some of the older fashions up now.  



First, a lovely,

Colonials, Victorians, Edwardians and Flappers, Oh My

 



I haven't written up a 'New at Past Past Vintage' post in weeks. But it was worth waiting for. We are offering a 1770s Silk Open Robe, and separately a 1770s skirt, both shown here, a large size 1900 Black Silk Tea Gown in the Grand Style, a stunning 1904 Wedding Dress and another larger size 1910s White Linen Walking Suit with fine cutwork and embroidery.



 



 

Past Perfect

Vintage Clothing Does Come in Larger Sizes

One of the misconceptions about vintage clothing is that, without exception, It Is Tiny. Clothing for modern sz 0 -2. Granted, much is too small for the average American woman, who is taller than her predecessors, and correspondingly wider in the shoulders. And yes, the average size today is much larger than the average size of women in the 1930s - 60s, much less the Victorian and

Meditations on 20 Years in the Biz

I just realized yesterday with a bit of a shock that 2012 marks 20 years in the vintage and antique clothing business for us. In 1992, we started with a 10" X 14" booth at the Art Deco Show in Indianapolis. We were not terribly sure of ourselves, but we made our booth rent back during set up, so that was a great reassurance. Later, we added the Elgin shows, then did vintage shows in Connecticut

Wonderful Mystery Photos, Victorian Edition

 
Mystery family. That's who I think these are. Sorting through research files and photos this morning, I came across these two again. They first showed up when my aunt and uncle's house was emptied out. They had  a lot of family photos, which my cousin kindly put on discs and sent everyone. No one knows who these two are. We showed them to my 90+ aunties, and they both said: 'oh yes we've seen

A Fabulous Foursome

 
These four additions to Past Perfect vintage all come from one estate auction. There were 2 other dresses (we didn't get) and 2 hats (we did).  I love the story they tell. There were 2 young woman's dresses in the same small size from 1907 - 1908 ish, represented here by the one we purchased, a lace insertion dress in pale pink cotton. There was a much larger black beaded and sequinned gown

Coming Soon to a Vintage Website Near You

It has been the season of catch up here at Past Perfect Vintage. We have spent Volumes of time getting the fall leaves up and building a new porch. A few more studs and some siding, and it would have been another room on the house. All worthwhile endeavors, but they eat up the time. Preparing wonderful vintage clothes for the website has actually felt like playing hooky! When a trip to the

My, My How the Corset Has Changed

A good corset is a treat to find. Ladies didn't need but a few. Washable garments were worn under and over the expensive corset to save it from wear, tear and washing. And since they were adjustable to size by lacing, a lady could use the same corset for years. She would need to purchase a new one for a major weight loss or gain, or when the fashionable silhouette made a major change. So there

New. Lots of New coming

Oh, my we have been busy. First, that kitchen remodel is done! Then we had an early Christmas. Then we got some 20 items ready and up at www.pastperfectvintage.etsy.com, and they are up and going fast. Here's an eclectic sample, but go take look, then come back. 1970 Rodrigues Maxi Dress 1950s Paisley Blouse1970s Velvet Gaucho Set 1979s Print Blousec. 1904 Wedding Bodice Sash and shoes Gold

Another Day as Victorian Laundress

Why do I do this to myself?  I am no great fan of ironing. I do not love the smell of spray starch in the morning.  I bet it's even carcinogenic. In the 30 years I have collected and later dealt in Vintage Clothing, I have seen hundreds of Victorian and Edwardian whites go by. Dresses, blouses, skirts, the full range of underwear from the 1850s to the 20s. Truth be told, I let  99% of it go right

A First Lady a Day: Ida McKinley, 1897 & 1901

This is a sad story. Poor Ida. She had a very difficult time of it. Her childhood and younger years were fine. But she lost both her children and her mother within in few years, and after that - she seems to have become very delicate both emotionally and physically. It is thought now that she had phlebitis and epilepsy. She certainly had seizures, some of them in public. She spent her days as a

A First Lady a Day - Helen in 1909

Christmas break is over and we come back with Helen. Yes, we are still in the 20th C. That’s Helen Taft. A woman who wanted the job if ever there was one. She had been First Lady of the Philippines while her husband William Howard Taft was the Governor. Apparently she liked the job, and had ambitions for more. Even her official White House bio ( and these are always kind) refers to her